KILLER CASE FILES – VOLUME 10
BONUS CHAPTER
Thanks for being one of my readers!
Jamie
The Killing of Latasha Harlins: A Story of Injustice and Tension
It was a typical Saturday morning in March of 1991 when Latasha Harlins walked into Empire Liquor, a convenience store located in the Vermont Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. The 15-year-old girl had just left her home and was on her way to meet her friends. She grabbed a carton of orange juice and put it in her backpack. But what happened next would change the course of her life forever.
Soon Ja Du, a 49-year-old Korean-American woman, was working behind the counter that morning. She saw Latasha put the orange juice in her backpack and assumed she was stealing it. Du confronted Latasha and accused her of theft. But Latasha had the money in her hand and fully intended to pay for the juice.
Du, however, didn’t see the money and grabbed Latasha’s backpack, which led to a physical altercation between the two. Latasha struck Du twice and knocked her down. Du retaliated by throwing a stool at Latasha, who tried to escape.
Next, Du got a gun from under the counter and shot Latasha in the back of the head as she was leaving the store. Latasha died instantly.
The killing of Latasha Harlins was a tragedy that shook the community. It was also a catalyst for the already-existing tension between African-American residents and Korean-American merchants in South Central Los Angeles.
The incident occurred just 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King, which further fueled the anger and frustration of the community.
The trial of Soon Ja Du was closely watched by the media and the public. The security camera footage of the incident was played in court, showing the physical altercation between Du and Latasha and the moment Du shot her in the back of the head. Du’s defense was that she acted in self-defense and believed her life was in danger. But the evidence contradicted her claim because Latasha was leaving the store and unarmed.
The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. However, the judge, Joyce Karlin, sentenced Du to just five years of probation, 10 years of suspended prison, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. The sentence was widely criticized as being too lenient and a failure of the justice system.
The decision and sentence exacerbated the already existing tensions between African-American residents and Korean-American merchants in South Central Los Angeles. Many African-Americans felt that they were being mistreated and disrespected by the Korean-American merchants, who owned many of the stores in the area but did not live in the community. They also felt that they were being unfairly targeted and wrongly accused of theft by these merchants.
On the other hand, many Korean-Americans felt that they were being unfairly blamed for the longstanding problems in the community and that they were being targeted by African-American criminals. They also felt that they were being discriminated against by the justice system and that their businesses were being unfairly targeted by the police.
These tensions boiled over 13 months after Latasha Harlin’s murder.
In April 1992 the verdict of the trial of the four police officers who beat Rodney King was announced. All the officers were acquitted, and the African-American community erupted in anger and frustration, leading to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The riots lasted for six days and resulted in 63 deaths, thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars in damages.
During the riots, Soon Ja Du’s store was looted and burned down. The property never reopened, and Du’s life was forever changed. The incident also had a lasting impact on the families of Latasha Harlins and Soon Ja Du. Latasha’s family lost a beloved daughter and sister, while Du’s family lost their livelihood and their reputation.
The killing of Latasha Harlins was a tragedy that highlighted the deep-seated issues of racial tension and injustice in America. It was an example that the justice system is not always fair and that innocent lives can be lost due to basic misunderstandings and simple prejudices.
In the aftermath of the incident and the riots, many community leaders and activists worked to bridge the gap between African-American and Korean-American communities in South Central Los Angeles. They organized dialogues, workshops, and community events to promote understanding and reconciliation. While there is still much work to be done, their efforts have brought some progress and hope for a better future.
The killing of Latasha Harlins was a tragedy that should never be forgotten. It should serve as a reminder of the importance of equal justice, empathy, and understanding in our society. It should also inspire us to work towards a more just and equitable world where all lives are valued and respected.
